How the Search For Freedom Led to Living in Rural Colombia

From the beginning

Six years ago, I made a decision that changed my life for the better. When I was in high school, the only thing I wanted was to leave the town I was living in; that was my goal: leave.

Instead, I went to college in the city near where I went to high school; by default, it was the only college that accepted me. I was not the best student, and my grades could have been better, so I accepted and moved to the dorms.

Even though I was only 30 minutes from where I went to high school and my family, it seemed like a lifetime away. No one came to visit or even picked me up for holidays when I had to leave the University.

So, my next goal after college was to move to another state. I chose a career that I knew would pay me well and that I would never have to worry about having a job: I became a nurse.

• Was it my dream? No.

• Am I glad I did it? Yes.

It gave me the only thing I wanted: freedom, my ultimate goal.

I took a job offer in Boston, and after a few months, I knew I would not stay in the cold Northeast. I then started my search to become a travel nurse. They required one year of nursing experience, and once I had my year, I quit and got a travel job.

My ultimate goal was to travel.

Instead, I headed to California, where I stayed for 15 years.

However, my nursing degree helped me get where I am now, living in rural Colombia.

Eight years ago, I began to get the travel bug and could not shake it.

For two years, I worked double time, extra shifts, and two or three jobs to pay off all my debts and save money. I also wanted to release myself from a career that was slowly killing me.

I also wanted, yet again, freedom.

The running theme of my life is to detach myself from expectations of the rat race and the hamster wheel to live a life I want, not what others expect of me.

So, six years ago, I leaped into the unknown and began my travel journey. Colombia was the first country on my list. I had no idea why; I wanted to experience something new.

In August 2018, I boarded a one-way flight and arrived in Bogotá, terrified, alone, and free.

It was pure bliss; I did not care what I did or saw; the world was my oyster. If you think that was it and I ended up staying, that would be wrong. I spent four months traveling to Colombia, and I loved every minute.

Except I wanted to continue traveling, I knew I was looking for a home deep down, but I wanted to see the world first and have options.

So, I continued traveling through South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, and eventually, in 2021, I decided to make Colombia my home.

I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it.

How do you move to another country?

Traveling is easy, but creating a home base, surviving immigration, and creating a new life is the challenge. I am immigrating to a new country and still in the trenches.

It is not easy. My life bopping around was easier and less stressful, but I did not want to continue aimlessly wandering.

I knew I was exploring and seeing the world, but I was craving a home, a place to hang my hat, and a place to create a community. So, I settled in rural Colombia.

I am getting my long-term visa and learning to create and build a life abroad.

So, what is the point of this post?

I wander and struggle to focus on one thing. However, I find myself searching for specific questions about Colombia to no avail; I never find what I want.

So, I will create the resources I am looking for—rebranding for my online spaces.

Medium will focus on my random life stories and a daily diary of thoughts, and Substack will focus more on Colombian living and those who want to move abroad.

I will cover everything from immigration, types of visas, how to search for housing, and what plants grow here to selling all your things to travel, finding a remote job, and more.

How do you move abroad and live in Colombia?

I have traveled extensively through this beautiful country and am always learning more. However, most of the resources I find on this topic are for travelers, not for those of us who want to create a home outside of the major cities.

Like me, I want to make a self-sustainable farm, and I need to know what grows in what climate and what birds are around, how to speak to the neighbors, and basic Spanish phrases specific to Colombia.

I will start at the beginning, covering everything from preparing to travel the world to preparing to move abroad to how to decide to move or travel.

Anyway, here are some ideas on where my platform is headed. It's sort of a rebranding awareness email.

Please comment on what you would like to know, and I can do the research or visit and report back!

Thank you for reading.

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you want to see where I live and what I am working on. Last week I went to Andes, a great spot not far from Medellín if you are looking for a small city vibe, plus prices of food:)

XOXO

S